China has deepened its strategic ties with Cambodia through the opening of a joint support and training center at the modernized Ream naval base. The facility, inaugurated on April 5, aims to enhance cooperation between the two nations in key areas such as counter-terrorism, disaster prevention and response, humanitarian rescue operations, and joint military exercises, or so both the countries claim. On the same day, China and Cambodia kicked off their collaborative military drills, named “Golden Dragon 2025,” signaling a strengthening of their defense partnership.
However, the developments at Ream have sparked significant attention and unease among defense analysts and regional observers. Satellite imagery released in 2023 uncovered extensive construction at the base, including a large dry dock facility and a pier reportedly capable of accommodating aircraft carriers. The sheer scale of these projects has raised eyebrows, particularly given the modest size of the Royal Cambodian Navy’s fleet. Experts argue that the infrastructure, especially the oversized dry dock, far exceeds Cambodia’s operational needs, leading to speculation that it may be designed to serve the interests of the Chinese military, possibly the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
The Ream naval base’s location adds another layer of complexity to the situation. Situated near the Malacca Strait—a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean—the base occupies a strategically vital position in the Indo-Pacific region. This proximity has intensified concerns about China’s expanding military footprint, as the Malacca Strait serves as a key artery for global trade and energy supplies. Analysts fear that the facility could bolster Beijing’s ability to project power in this geopolitically sensitive area.
As competition among global powers for influence in the Indo-Pacific heats up, the newly operational China-Cambodia facility at Ream underscores growing apprehensions about Beijing’s regional ambitions. While the collaboration between China and Cambodia is framed as a partnership for mutual benefit, the scale of the base’s modernization and its strategic positioning suggest broader implications. For Southeast Asia, the unfolding situation at Ream could signal a shift in the regional security landscape, with long-term consequences that remain a subject of intense debate and scrutiny.